The Colorful History of California License Plates

With recent news that the California DMV has begun production on the black license plates with the same gold lettering of the 1960s, we look back at the colorful history of California’s plates, prior to today’s most boring white-with-blue-lettering standard.

1914; Photograph courtesy wikipedia.com

New York was the first state to require automobiles have license plates, beginning in 1901. At the time, individual owners were expected to make their own plates, showcasing their initials, and not adhering to regulations as to size or material. Massachusetts became the first state to issue manufactured license plates in 1903, with California following suite in 1913.

1920; Photograph courtesy wikipedia.com

The size and shape of the state plates were not constant, varying from one jurisdiction to the next. When an owner registered a vehicle in a new state, they’d have to drill new holes to support the new plate, effectively turning their bumpers into Swiss cheese.

1934; Photograph courtesy wikipedia.com

In 1956, the U.S. government came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that fixed the size for license plates for automobiles at six inches by twelve inches with standardized mounting holes, and set a 6-digit registration number format.

1956; Photograph courtesy wikipedia.com

From 1963 to 1969, California-issued license plates featured gold numbers on black a black non-reflective paint with an embossed state name.

1963; Photograph courtesy wikipedia.com

In 1969, the base color was changed to blue with gold lettering. The state name remained embossed.

1969; Photograph courtesy wikipedia.com

In 1980, the standard issue registration numbers became the modern 7-digit format with a leading digit that remains constant followed by a 6-digit serial. Colors remained the same.

1982; Photograph courtesy Karan Kadam

In 1982, California plates were made white with blue lettering, and an optional sun graphic was added behind the state name. This plate was awarded “Plate of the Year” by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association in 1983. The sun graphic was discontinued in 1987, but the block lettering stayed the same until the script font we know today was introduced not long after.

Photograph courtesy flickr

We’ve been stuck with the character-less white plate with blue lettering, with California in a red script font, ever since.

1998; Photograph courtesy wikipedia.com

Luckily, the DMV sensed our plate-boredom, and has begun taking $50 pre-orders for it’s “legacy license plates,” including the yellow-with-black-lettering of the 1956 to 1962 issue years, the-black-with-yellow-lettering of 1963 to 1969, and the blue-with-yellow-lettering of 1969 to 1986.

However, the DMV stated that it wouldn’t begin re-making any of the plates until it has received 7,500 pre-orders for each by Jan. 1, 2015. Orders for the black plates flooded in, and the DMV’s plate manufacturer is warming its presses. The yellow and blue plates are still in a holding pattern until their order numbers meet the mark.